Improvement in grocers  sample-cases



H. WINDEN.

GROCERS SAMPLE CASES.

No.183,614;. Patented Oct. 24, 1876.

INVENTUR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. FHOTD-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE.

HANS A. WINDEN, OF OLERMONT, IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN GROCE RS SAMPLE-CASES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183,614, dated October 24, 1876; application filed March 14, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS A. WINDEN, of Olermont, in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented anew and Improved I part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a transverse section of the same.

The object of my invention is the construction of a sample-case for the exhibition of groceries and similar merchandise, in which, small quantities of material only being used as samples, the goods may be shown to the best advantage, and the waste of material incident to frequent handling may be avoided.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a long case, made of wood, metal, or other suitable material, the top of which slopes steeply from rear to front, so that the crosssection of the case is triangular in shape. The top a is of glass, and may either be fitted permanently to the case, or may, if preferable, constitute a hinged lid, secured by a lock. Fitting accurately at front and rear within the case is the block B, made of Wood or other suitable material. The upper surface of the block B slopes in the same direction and at the same angle as the glass cover or lid a, and is divided into a number of compartments by the thin low partitions b b b, &c. The block, not being so high as the interior of the case, slides freely up and down within. At regular distances along its bottom are the circular depressions or cavities b b b, &c., which are arranged in pairs, one of each pair being as farfrorn the front edge of the bottom of the block as its fellow is from the rear edge of the same. In these cavities are fitted the strong spiral springs 0 0, their free ends resting, when in position, upon the bottom of the case.

The following is the manner of using the case The lid or cover being removed, the spiral springs are inserted into the circular cavities of the block, which is then placed within the case. The different divisions of the surface of the block are then filled with small quantities of different merchandise, and the cover or lid is placed and secured in position. The springs, acting against the bottom of the case, keep the edges of the thin partitions pressed closely against the inner surface of the glass lid, making each division 2. perfect and separate compartment, from which none of the contained material can escape.

The advantages of my invention are as follows: The case, being of simple construction, can be made cheaply, and does not easily get out otrepair. It may be of any desired length, may be readily secured to the counter, to which it is a protection and ornament, 01' it may be fastened to the window-sill, and the goods thus shown outside.

The shape and arrangement of the case make it an excellent means of exhibiting various kinds of merchandise, small quantities of material being spread out, and retained in that position by the pressure of the springs. The block fitting accurately within the case, and the edges of the thin partitions being pressed closely and evenly against the glass, the compartments are perfectly separated, and the samples cannot be mixed, nor their material wasted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A grocers sample-case, consisting of the triangular box A, having glass top a, the correspondingly-shaped block B, and the springs O, the whole constructed and arranged as specified.

HANS A. WINDEN.

Witnesses SoLoN (J. KEMON, OHAs. A. PETTIT. 

